Compare towns
Winchendon vs Jaffrey vs Gardner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchendon has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Jaffrey has the highest household income ($92k).
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Winchendon | Jaffrey | Gardner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,440 |
5,448Lowest |
21,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±1.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.9±3.9 10% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Gardner and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Jaffrey and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gardner and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,690±$14k 6% below U.S. |
$92,330±$18kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Jaffrey and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,800±$19kHighest about the U.S. average |
$245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
| Winchendon and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,255±$163Highest 11% below U.S. |
$962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,109±$51 22% below U.S. |
| Winchendon and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,780Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$6,196Highest 99% above U.S. |
$4,150 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±17.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±23Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Winchendon and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gardner and Winchendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #269 of 282 in MA | #87 of 120 in NH | #273 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchendon | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Gardner |
| High school in town | Murdock High School | Conant Middle High School (H) | Gardner High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
21.3Highest |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.